The best solution, of course, is to develop this "sound recognition skill". While the amount of work it takes get there is significant, the benefits far exceed the mere ability to transcribe what is in your head. Most people think that the ability is magic, so that whe you develop this ability, people will think you are some kind of musical genius. It is similar to how the computer illiterate respond to programmers.
I use pen and paper. Anything else is an (understanably neccesary) shortcut. I feel for the trees, but I havent found an iPad app that allows you to simply write on a representation of staff paper yet.
I am a musician but I can see how this is useful given much practice and a creative, well practiced ear. One can, and people have, make music out of much less inspiring media. I agree that the piano and sine sounds utilized leave much to be desired. I can, rather, see this driving well crafted, masses of sound that can be later arranged by in logic or protools. You don't have to sound like a machine ( though you are certainly free to, and there is nothing wrong with it.) It might require hacking, but that is usually required for anything new, music included.
I use pen and paper. Anything else is an (understanably neccesary) shortcut. I feel for the trees, but I havent found an iPad app that allows you to simply write on a representation of staff paper yet.